Final Technical Report: DHL Twilight

Abstract

DHL Twilight is a cloud application to extend the delivery window for B2C (Business to Customer) deliveries during peak times so that shipments, where a failed delivery was made, can be re-arranged for a delivery outside of the normal working hours when the customer would be expected to be at home. As an employee working for DHL Express Ireland for over 5 years I was able to monitor courier reports, shipment volumes and have meetings with DHL Operation managers to understand the business case and requirements for the DHL Twilight cloud application. All reports and meetings with the DHL IE Operations management have confirmed year on year increases in deliveries to residential addresses (both in absolute terms and as a proportion of total deliveries) during peak periods including Black Friday weekend and Christmas.

As confirmed the daily inbound volume significantly increased during the month of November and December, Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend and Christmas holiday season. It is these peak periods that DHL Twilight is targeting to assist with the same day completed shipment delivery rate.

The DHL Twilight cloud application provides a scalable delivery platform to allow DHL employees the opportunity to assist with ad-hoc deliveries during these peak periods whilst maintaining full transparency and traceability for the delivery status and reduce the workload on the couriers during peak seasons ensuring that their delivery routes are not impacted by having to re-attempt deliveries. The DHL Twilight cloud application is fully scalable across all platforms reducing the requirement for DHL scanners. This will in turn allow for cost savings on courier scanners and expand the network delivery times to fit that of the customer.